phoney
Phoney is the British and Canadian variant of the English word phony, meaning not genuine or sincere. Used as an adjective, it describes things or people that pretend to be something they are not. As a noun, a phoney can refer to a person who deceives others or to a counterfeit item. In US English, the spelling "phony" is standard; in British English and other Commonwealth English, "phoney" is common. The two spellings are pronounced the same: /ˈfoʊni/. The term dates from 19th-century American slang and entered broader English use in the early 20th century; the spelling variant arose from differences in American and British orthography. The word carries a negative connotation, ranging from mild skepticism to explicit accusation of fraud, depending on context. It is informal and often colloquial, so in formal writing "fake" or "insincere" may be preferred.
In modern usage, phoney appears in everyday speech, journalism, and fiction. When capitalized, it may occur as